Role of neutron rearrangement channels in sub-barrier fusion

Abstract

Different factors influencing the sub-barrier fusion enhancement owing to neutron rearrangement with positive Q values are studied. It was found that opposite to the previous opinion the presence of positive Q values is necessary but not sufficient to observe enhancement of the sub-barrier fusion. "Rigidity" of colliding nuclei with respect to collective excitations plays a crucial role for the sub-barrier fusion enhancement due to neutron rearrangement. Neutron binding energy has a strong impact but only in the case of fusion of light nuclei.